I feel like a dork with this ponytail...

[Redstone]

I'm growing out my hair for the Locks of Love program (for the second time). The way it works is that you grow your hair to 10 or 12 inches long, and they chop it off to make wigs for kids with cancer. I'm about halfway there in length.

They don't want dyed hair, and of course no kid wants a wig made of grey hair, so I figured I can do it one more time while my hair's still black.

But I wonder, when people see me with the ponytail, if they think I'm one of those middle-aged guys who's trying to regain his hippie youth or something. (Not that I generally care what people think, as you know.)

And I had my first business meeting a couple of days ago, and with the ponytail stuffed down inside my shirt, nobody noticed...I may do this again after this episode...it's kinda convenient to tie up your hair in the morning and not have to bother with brushing or combing it the rest of the day.

Redstone

[Amerigo Vespucci]

1. I think you nailed it in the third paragraph

I have a friend who's an insurance salesman.

He doesn't wear a suit and tie.

One time he walked into the office of a potential client and was asked "where's your tie?"

He said "I don't wear one."

The guy said "Here, we wear suits and ties."

My friend said "That's great. I don't. Would you like to buy some insurance?"

And he's still their broker to this very day.

Sometimes life just wants to call your bluff. Our job is to not blink when that happens. You're doing something for a good cause. Everything else is just noise. Ignore it.

:toast:

[Redstone]

3. That works. When I was in the electronics business,

I generally did not wear a tie. But ever since I started my own business, I make it a point (though I'm no clotheshorse) to be the best-dresed person in any business meeting.

Even if my client's dress code is a jockstrap and a feather, I'll be the guy with the suit and tie. That, and being over 6 feet tall and with long black hair, goes a long way to take control of the direction of the meeting (and to help me talk them into spending money with my company).

Redstone

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. I wear a suit and tie, but I do it for me, not for my clients

Yes, my clients have a better reaction to me when I'm dressed that way.

But when I get up, get in the shower, get in the suit and tie, and go out and beat the bushes in Silicon Valley for new business, dressing that way puts me in the "zone," gives me the mindset I prefer.

When I go to the market to get something for dinner on a Saturday night, I don't wear a tie.

When I walk into an office or other place of business where no one knows me, I wear a tie. If that's what it takes for them to feel comfortable doing business with a professional...which I most certainly am...it's not an issue. Within a few minutes of interaction, my clients know that I know my stuff. The suit and tie just helps them get to the point where they're willing to have the conversation. If I walked in looking like I fell out of a tree, the conversation would never happen.

[Redstone]

5. Very well and concisely said. And it works even better if

you wear "timeless classic" clothes rather than what's in style at the time (like pleated pants were for a few years, or those idiotic yellow ties in the 1980s).

And, oh, this might not fit into the "timeless classic" idea, I do wear Tony Lama cowboy boots and Western shirts with snaps instead of buttons (but no string ties!)

Redstone

[marzipanni]

6. I saw a man walking across a parking lot in a frock coat

He was Spanish looking, had a mustache and ponytail, and looked quite striking dashing. ;) I think he wore a white shirt and jeans(no hat) not as fancy as this guy -

[mzteris]

2. ponytails on men

are SEXY!!

:yourock:

[graywarrior]

7. Yep

[Redstone]

10. Even if they're halfway bald (which I am not)?

I always thought that looked a bit odd, kind of like making up for no hair on the top of the head by growing it out of the back.

Redstone

[lunatica]

12. Yes. Baldness is also sexy

Not all baldness, of course, just like not all long hair looks great. But I know quite a few men who are bald who I find sexy. And men with clean shaved heads are the ultimate sexy too.

[graywarrior]

16. Yep

[lunatica]

13. I agree

[HappyMe]

29. Oh indeedy!

:D Very sexy.

[Bluzmann57]

8. Ponytail? Hair?

What are you taking about? Oh wait, I remember, hair on top of the head.
Congratulations on growing a ponytail for locks of love. That's pretty cool. Or should I say groovy? Old hippy thing ya know.

[Demoiselle]

9. Redstone, you are a thoughtful and generous human being.

We should all be such dorks.

[lunatica]

11. Working in UC Berkeley, believe me men with ponytails are cool and not uncommon

Frankly I think it shows independence and a supreme indifference to what others think of you. I also think it's practical to let your hair grow out and just manage it with a ponytail, even if you have a bald spot. I always think such men have great self-esteem. But I do like to see it clean and shiny, just like women's hair.

I'm a 63 year old who wears my hair long half way down my back. When I go to work I pull it back into a half pony tail held in place with barrettes. I'm determined I'm not going to be a senior citizen with short blue hair that has to be salon done. Natural hair is the best. it never ever goes out of style.

[kimi]

14. I think it's very cool, what you're doing.

And men who can rock ponytails, and a suit and tie, I think are very sexy. Adds some mystery to your demeanor, too - you think independently and are self-confident enough not to go with the conventional crowd.

And if anyone ever asked you, and you mention the Locks of Love program, those questioning you would probably consider doing the same thing.

[Redstone]

15. Thank you. I've always had long hair (see below)

but it's a bit different roving into ponytail territory - for example, I can now see how big my ears are...
.

Redstone

[kimi]

18. Well, can't see your ears at all!

Really, I've been around lots of professional people in my life, including many military people and military contractors. The ones who stand out are those who can express their individuality and intelligence. I was nurse-manager of a military OB/GYN clinic for a few years, had lots of meetings with vendors. Those who dressed well did get positive attention, I'll admit. But hair length, facial hair, piercings, tats -- never mattered to me, really. It was all about presentation - if someone is proud of what they represent, then I was interested, and willing to go up the chain to ask for it.

And growing Locks for Love - hey, that is wonderful! Srsly, you deserve kudos for that.

[Taverner]

17. Consider a fez

I've never met you personally, but something about you tells me 'this guy would look cool in a fez!'

[Redstone]

23. A fez. Yes indeed, and a pipe and a silk smoking jacket. I'd be all set.

Redstone

[Taverner]

24. But of course!

But you're never gonna do it without your fez on...

[Ineeda]

19. I donated my hair three times

and I admire your efforts, but Locks of Love is no longer my choice to donate to. There are also a few inaccuracies in your post. LoL will take dyed (not bleached) hair and grey hair. More importantly, they do not provide wigs to kids with cancer, but SELL wigs to adults and kids with permanent hair loss. LoL is ethically questionable and extremely misleading, in that they take in large amounts of cash and donated hair (that they SELL), and they don't provide many wigs at all, perhaps none of them actually free.
Here's a link. http://www.squidoo.com/locksoflove
Pantene has a lesser-known, but a more "charitable" program. Here's that link. http://www.pantene.com/en-US/beautiful-lengths-cause/pages/how-hair-wigs-help-women.aspx

[Redstone]

22. Oh, hey, thanks for the eye-opener. I'll definitely investigate.

Redstone

[livetohike]

25. I donated my hair to Pantene two years ago and am

ready to do it again, just for the reasons you mentioned. Thanks for posting that :hi:.

[laylah]

33. My hair is now to the bottom

of my hiney, so I have been contemplating the LOL route, until I saw your post. I just checked the Pantene site. Unfortunately, hair cannot be more than 5% grey (I AM fortunate that mine is white). That puts me out of their program.

I will investigate LOL further; however, if you know of any other organizations that would accept my BEAUTIFUL 60 year old hair, please let me know. In the meantime, I will Google.

Thank you for the information.

[CBGLuthier]

20. I never cut my hair under the previous "president."

Thanks to the fact that it has been over 100 degrees for the last 30 days I am ever so glad to not be carrying that now. It is unreal just how much moisture 15 inches of hair can hold.

[Bake]

21. I'd be with you, but mine's already silver

I hate the the word "gray."

Kudos!

Bake

[kimi]

26. I belong to a hair care forum

And they don't like the word "gray" either. They call it "sparklies"!

You're not gray, you simply sparkle!! :toast:

[OriginalGeek]

27. I'm 47 and go to work erry day

with my pony tail flying. I have also had, off and on, a handlebar mustache. I routinely have lunch with directors and sometimes even officers in the company and it seems to bother nobody. Of course, I've been here 11 years so most have had plenty of time to get used to it. I did recently get a trim so it's only down to the middle of my back at the moment...

[BrendaBrick]

28. Major Kudos to you Redstone for you for not only going against convention

...but to do it for a worthy cause to boot!

So, in your honor, this one is for you!!!! (By the original artists):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZYgWn7-WOw&feature=fvsr

:-)

Alternative video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D59ZWa8ehgI

[BrendaBrick]

30. Furthermore...just SCREW this whole ordeal act of "proper" crap

ANYWAY...altogether as Colbert illustrates here:

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/380598/april-06-2011/my-fair-colbert---hugo-vickers

This whole *scene* is a bit ridiculous anyhow.....when you really STOP to think about it!

Bidding by somebody ELSE'S (so-called) *RULES*

Ridiculous, really, after all!

Screw THAT! :-)

[datasuspect]

31. Try a mullet next time

[HopeHoops]

32. I've had long hair most of the time since I was about 16. A ponytail is nice.

I don't usually put it in one, but sometimes when I'm going out, or working in the wood shop or garden, I'll put it up. It's also convenient for meetings and other places where I have to remove my hat. I'm 48 and I see a lot of other guys my age or older with pony tails. I can't quite reach 10-12" to lop off. It just stops growing after a certain length. Besides, I'm streaked with sliver. And don't hide it. No need to.